PARISH COUNCIL www.sambourne.org.uk

Chairman: Cllr Chris Clews 01527 853844 Clerk: Teresa Murphy 01789 778009

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Monday 11th September 2017

Present:

Cllr Chris Clews Chairman Cllr Phil Jones Vice-Chairman Cllr David Shaw Cllr Pete Joynes Cllr Clive Rickhards County Council Cllr Hazel Wright Stratford District Council (Studley with Sambourne) Teresa Murphy Clerk

There were 7 parishioners present.

1.Apologies: Cllr Philip Bond, Cllr Justin Kerridge

2.Disclosure of Interest: None

3.Minutes of the Last Meeting

The minutes of the meeting held on 17th July 2017 were agreed and signed.

4. Matters Arising

Crushed verge by Cricket Club: To be carried forward

Seat around the chestnut tree on the Green: WCC Forestry have inspected the tree and advise removal of the damaged branch. People in Sambourne have feelings for this tree and it is hoped that a solution can be found to preserve it by pruning and shaping. Cllr Jones will obtain a quote for this work to be carried out. As an alternative, the new bench could be put round the oak tree by the bus shelter but this is a separate issue, dependant on the tree surgeon’s report.

Action: Cllr Jones

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Speeding Action Group: It was hoped that this Group would get underway very shortly. Chris is happy to come along to a meeting to give his views. It would be interesting to do a vehicle count whilst Whitemoor Lane is closed.

Action: Cllrs Bond and Joynes

Transparency Fund: The Clerk has purchased a laptop and software, using the transparency funding grant. There is a sum of £50 remaining from the grant, which it was agreed could be earmarked for the purchase of a scanner/printer when the need arises.

Cutting of the verges: Cllr Hazel Wright confirmed that WCC have not left the verges to grow wild and they have now been cut.

June meeting in Studley with Police: Cllr Wright reported that the next meeting with the Police and Crimes Commissioner will be held in June 2018.

Junction of Whitemoor Lane/Alcester Heath: Cllr Rickhards thinks that a site meeting may not be necessary and Ragley should just be asked to cut the foliage back. The Clerk was asked to write a letter to the Estates Manager requesting this.

Action: Clerk

Co-operation with Flood Risk Management Team: Cllr Bond has met with the farmer who is renting the field adjacent to Middletown Lane. It will now be necessary to collect evidence and photos of flooding and damage before we can move forward.

Ongoing

Defibrillator training:

1) The two hour training session held in July was successful and well attended. A donation of £150 was given to the Charity. 2) Rob Clarke has put a maintenance sheet in the cabinet which should be checked about every six weeks. Rob has agreed to do this. 3) The Clerk had purchased a new battery and Laurence agreed to fit it.

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Donation for upkeep of Coughton Cemetery: A donation of £200 has been made.

Traffic Survey on A435: The Chairman attended the meeting held in Studley to discuss the Eastern Gateway. The Survey showed that the busiest routes were south of Studley. He felt that the meeting was inconclusive and little was achieved.

Warwickshire Carer’s Wellbeing Service: Posters for this excellent Scheme are now on the notice boards.

Parking in Astwood Bank: The problem of traffic through Sambourne would be greatly alleviated by free-flowing traffic through Astwood Bank. It was proposed to work with Cllr Rickhards to get the parking restrictions re-imposed, involving the local MPs if necessary.

Action: Chairman, Cllr Rickhards

Dog fouling: The Chairman thanked Cllrs Jones, Bond and Joynes for all the time spent on this problem. The Dog Warden from SDC is currently on extended leave and Environmental Health were reluctant to take any action. The general appeal to residents seems to have worked and the problem has abated somewhat.

5. Public Participation

Cllr Rickhards reminded Councillors that the County Councillor grant is still available. Applications to be made by 9th October 2017.

6. Repairs needed to the Bus Shelter

The repairs to the roof of the bus shelter would cost approximately £450. It was agreed that an application be made to the County Councillor’s Members Grant to pay for the repairs.

Action: Chairman

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7. Planters for Middletown

It was thought that the amount of £150 agreed at the previous meeting was insufficient to cover the cost of purchasing the planters. It was, therefore, agreed to increase the amount to £250.

8. Repair to the Traffic Sign outside the Church

It was agreed that the sign should be mended. The Chairman agreed to apply for funding through the County Councillor’s Members Grant. If this proved unsuccessful the following two options were discussed:

a) To contact WCC and ask them, as the owners of the sign, to carry out the repair b) If they refuse to do so, the Parish Council will fund the repair.

Action: Chairman

9. Funding for The Link

It was agreed that an annual donation of £100 be made to The Link. Cheque to be made payable to Coughton with Sambourne PCC.

10. Accounts

The following cheques were signed:

Clerk Salary and expenses 552.90 HMRC Clerk’s Tax 121.60 Clerk Purchase of laptop (Transparency Funding) 606.46 Tranter Battery for defibrillator 238.80 Chairman Website expenses 9.58 Coughton PCC The Link 100.00

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11. Planning

New Applications

16/02233/FUL Proposed Land to rear of 1 Notification as erection of 5 – 19 Littlewood adjoining council dwellings Green K Rutter 117/01847/OUT Redditch Notification as Gateway adjoining Council 17/02820/VARY Chestnut Court Additional car No objection parking

Decisions 17/02192/VARY Chestnut Court Additional car Permission parking 29/8/2017 17/01859//LBC The Coach House Single storey Planning Cttee extension 6/9/17 17/01717/VARY The Nook 2 storey dwelling Permission 27/07/2017

A letter had been received from SDC concerning service changes. The Clerk was asked to respond to the letter and request that Sambourne PC continues to have paper copies of planning applications.

Action: Clerk

12. Chairman’s business

Christmas tree: Laurence agreed to speak to Brian Summers and make arrangements for fund-raising and sponsorship for the tree.

Action: Laurence

Whitemoor Lane: Will be closed from 22nd – 26/27th September 2017.

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Planting around the green box: The Chairman thanked Sue Jones for the research undertaken to source appropriate planting. It was agreed to leave it until March next year as this would be a good planting time. The Clerk was asked to put it on the March agenda.

Action: Clerk

13. Any other business

Peter Bishop expressed his concern about the dangers of walking from Middletown to the Jubilee. This seems to be getting worse and is caused by irresponsible drivers. Cllrs Joynes and Bond would consider this at the next meeting of the Speeding Action Group.

Action: Cllrs Joynes and Bond

14. Dates of next meetings

Monday 13th November 2017 at 7.45 pm Monday 15th January 2018 at 7.45 pm

The Clerk was asked to contact Clerks of neighbouring Parish Councils to inform them of these dates.

Action: Clerk

The meeting closed at 9.45 pm

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